scholarly journals Examining misdiagnosis of mild cognitive impairment among Black/African American older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (S6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M Kiselica ◽  
Ellen Johnson ◽  
Kaleea Lewis ◽  
Kate Trout
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-116
Author(s):  
Valarie B. Fleming ◽  
Joyce L. Harris

Across the breadth of acquired neurogenic communication disorders, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may go undetected, underreported, and untreated. In addition to stigma and distrust of healthcare systems, other barriers contribute to decreased identification, healthcare access, and service utilization for Hispanic and African American adults with MCI. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have significant roles in prevention, education, management, and support of older adults, the population must susceptible to MCI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 114-115
Author(s):  
Adrienne Aiken Morgan ◽  
Ana Capuano ◽  
Robert Wilson ◽  
Lisa Barnes

Abstract Previous research suggests a decline in body mass index (BMI) among older adults is associated with negative health outcomes, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and incident dementia (Gao et al., 2011). However, few studies have examined BMI longitudinal trajectories and how they change after MCI diagnosis among older African Americans. To characterize trajectories of change in BMI among older African American participants with no cognitive impairment at baseline we used data from the Minority Aging Research Study, MARS (N=408, 76.5% women, mean age = 73.5, mean education = 15.0). We constructed piecewise linear mixed-effects models that included a random intercept and two random slopes. The first slope began at baseline. The second slope began at MCI diagnosis allowing for acceleration in the rate of decline after the diagnosis. The results showed BMI declined over time (B=-0.19, SE=0.04, p<.001), and there was a faster decline after MCI (additional decline, B=-0.18, SE=0.068, p=.007). In a second model controlling for age, higher education was associated with a lower BMI at baseline (B=-0.36, SE=0.092, p<.001) but slower decline before MCI (B=0.02, SE=0.006, p=.001). However, after MCI the decline of participants with higher education was faster (B=-0.06, SE=0.022, p=.003). These results suggest an accelerated decline in BMI following MCI diagnosis, with higher education related to an even faster BMI decline, possibly a consequence of cognitive reserve.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S421-S421
Author(s):  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
Sahru Keiser ◽  
Leah Vest ◽  
Marsha Maloof ◽  
...  

Abstract African American /Black American older adults’ low participation in research reduces the generalizability of research findings and hinders understanding of dementia mechanisms, further widening health disparities. Both the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institutes of Health have identified recruitment of African Americans with cognitive impairment into dementia research as an area of high priority. Distrust of research and medical institutions is often cited as a barrier to participation of African Americans in dementia research. Therefore, the goal of this study is to better understand African American community members’ expectations associated with trust. We used focus groups and semi-structured interviews to examine the expectations associated with overall trust. We conducted 6 focus groups: 4 with African American older adults and 2 with caregivers of African American older adults with cognitive impairment. We also interviewed 5 African American older adults with cognitive impairment (total n=59). Data were analyzed with content analysis. Five themes emerged: 1) Importance of providing truthful help/information leading to trust; 2) Long relationships leading to trust; 3) Acting efficiently and consistently (e.g., “not fooling around”) leading to trust; 4) Transference of trust (e.g., I can likely trust someone trusted by a trusted person); 5) Difficult to trust because of a harsh social environment. To conclude, trust is a complex belief associated with multiple expectations and relationships. It is critical that researchers understand these expectations related to trust in order to increase recruitment of African American older adults into dementia research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Suppl) ◽  
pp. 719-734
Author(s):  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Nynikka R. Palmer ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
Catherine M. Waters ◽  
Carl V. Hill ◽  
...  

Black/African American populations are un­derrepresented as participants in dementia research. A major barrier to participation of African American older adults in dementia research is a tendency to distrust research institutions owing to both historical and contemporary racism. Building on the Ford framework, the objective of our study was to examine factors that influence participa­tion in dementia research among African American older adults and caregivers, with an emphasis on understanding factors related to trust. Data were collected during January 2019 and March 2020 from 10 focus groups with African American older adults (n=91), 5 focus groups with caregiv­ers (n=44), and interviews with adminis­trators of community-based organizations (n=11), and meetings with our Community Advisory Board. Inductive/deductive con­tent analysis was used to identify themes. The results identified an overall tension be­tween distrust of researchers and a compel­ling desire to engage in dementia research. This overarching theme was supported by six themes that provided insights about the multiple layers of distrust, as well as expectations about the appropriate conduct of researchers and academic institutions. Strong commitment to the community was identified as a priority. The findings suggest that a paradigm shift is needed to increase the representation of African Americans in dementia research. In this new paradigm, earning the trust of African American com­munities becomes a systemic endeavor, with academic, state, and national institutions deeply committed to earning the trust of African American communities and guiding researchers in this endeavor. The findings also generated actionable recommendations to help improve representation of African American older adults in dementia research.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(Suppl 2):719-734; doi:10.18865/ed.30.S2.719


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 878-878
Author(s):  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Nynikka Palmer ◽  
Peter Lichtenberg ◽  
Catherine Waters ◽  
Carl Hill ◽  
...  

Abstract Black/African American populations are underrepresented as participants in dementia research. A major barrier to participation of African American older adults in dementia research is a tendency to distrust research institutions owing to a legacy of racism. Building on the Ford framework, the objective of our study was to examine factors that influence participation in dementia research among African American older adults and caregivers, with an emphasis on understanding factors related to trust. Data were collected from 10 focus groups with African American older adults (n=91), 5 focus groups with caregivers (n=44), and interviews with administrators of community-based organizations (n=11), and meetings with our Community Advisory Board. Inductive/deductive content analysis was used to identify themes. The results identified an overall tension between distrust of researchers and a compelling desire to engage in dementia research. This overarching theme was supported by six themes that provided insights about the multiple layers of distrust, as well as expectations about the appropriate conduct of researchers and academic institutions. Strong commitment to the community was identified as a priority. The findings suggest that a paradigm shift is needed to increase the representation of African Americans in dementia research. In this new paradigm, earning the trust of African American communities becomes a systemic endeavor, with academic, state and national institutions deeply committed to earning the trust of African American communities and guiding researchers in this endeavor. The findings also generated actionable recommendations to help improve representation of African American older adults in dementia research.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document